Enable or disable JavaScript in Internet Explorer 8 / IE 7

By default, "Active Scripting" (JavaScript and VBScript) is enabled in Internet Explorer; this allows for extra interactivity in web pages. There are cases, however, when you might want to disable JavaScript (and scripting in general) altogether. Since Internet Explorer has different "security zones", you can have scripting enabled for pages on your company's intranet, but JavaScript disabled when you surf the internet (an external website).

Disable JavaScript in Internet Explorer

Follow these steps to turn off JavaScript in your web browser:

Open Internet Explorer if it isn't already running

Press Alt+T to reveal the Tools menu (hidden by default)

Choose "Internet Options"

When the Options dialog opens, click on the "Security" tab

If you want to disable JavaScript for external websites (usually the case), select "Internet" as zone to customize its security settings:

Then, click on the "Custom level" button

Scroll all the way down, and backup a bit, until you see the "Scripting" section.

Internet Explorer lets you customize several levels of scripting permissions, but, to disable JavaScript entirely, click on "Disable" under "Active Scripting". This turns off JavaScript (and VBScript) for all websites you visit that are not inside your intranet (don't worry if you are not familiar with this term), or web pages you may have saved and stored on your computer.

Click OK to apply your new script security settings.

Click OK again to dismiss the Options dialog and return to Internet Explorer.

The next website you load (or next web page you refresh), will have JavaScript turned off; you do not need to restart Internet Explorer, but the change won't take effect until you open a new page.

Keep in mind that many, many websites now rely heavily on JavaScript, which means that -while safer- using the web without JavaScript enabled is a crippling experience.